Mixed Bag: Supervisors delay final action on Data Center Ordinance, rule on Short-Term rentals

The Warren County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting October 25th and began with approval of a budget amendment that would carry over a $3.3...

Jury takes less than hour to find ‘Sammy’ North liable in wife’s ‘scheme’ to move $110,000 from EDA to real estate transaction for personal gain

After just over five hours of testimony, evidence, and opening and closing arguments by plaintiff and defense counsel Tuesday, a seven-person Warren County Circuit Court civil...

American Legion Community Band Fall Concert – October 25, 2022, R-MA Boggs Chapel

In celebration of the fall season, the American Legion Community Band presented their Fall Concert on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 7:30 pm in Boggs Chapel...

Front Royal Public Works driver Sam Grimsley hanging up his keys after over 32 years with Town

After over 32 years on the job at the Town of Front Royal Public Works Department, Samuel L. Grimsley plans to retire on Dec. 1. The...

Council grants special exception parking permit for 12 Chester Street; Approves short-term rental for Fairview Avenue home

The Front Royal Town Council, at its regular meeting on Monday (Oct. 24), held a public hearing to consider a special exception parking permit for the...

FRPD sexual solicitation of minors sting nets second arrest of out-of-town male

On Monday, October 10, 2022, Front Royal Police detectives initiated an investigation regarding the solicitation of minors in the Warren  County/Front Royal area. Detectives started a...

Liaison Committee discussion reveals County-Town staff ‘Negotiations’ on past jointly funded FR-WC EDA projects – could this carryover to the litigation front?

The Front Royal-Warren County Liaison Committee meeting of Thursday, October 20, tackled a 10-item agenda on outstanding issues of mutual interest to the two geographically overlapping...

Town Planning Commission avoids Murphy Theater debate, bids farewell to Vice-Chairman Gordon

The Front Royal Planning Commission held its monthly meeting on October 19, and in the absence of Chairman Daryl Merchant, Vice-Chairman William Gordon, whose resignation from...

Ongoing staff challenges prompt action by School Board

To attract more licensed teachers to the Warren County Public Schools (WCPS) homebound instruction program, the Warren County School Board voted 4-1 to approve an increased...

Back on the streets, Front Royal’s Festival of Leaves celebrates a half century

Supervisors explore budget carryover process and new software prior to light meeting agenda – THEN there was the closed session

A Tuesday evening, October 18, work session of the Warren County Board of Supervisors began with Finance Director Matt Robertson’s explanation of his recommendation for a...

Town Council consensus is to move forward with FREDA after staff irons out missing procedural details

On Monday night, October 17, the Front Royal Town Council and its newly created, and meeting as of this January, Front Royal Economic Development Authority (FREDA)...

‘Pick of the Litter’ Thrift Store to open in early November, will help support the Humane Society of Warren County’s operations

The Humane Society of Warren County (HSWC) is again spreading its wings, so to speak. Not long after establishing a discount spay/neuter clinic in downtown Front...

Out of the frying pan and into the fire – Rogers sworn in as newly appointed town council member Friday afternoon

Shortly after 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 14, in the Warren County Courthouse, Skip Rogers was sworn in as the newly appointed member of the Front Royal...

County Planning Commission tackles unique down-zoning request in Linden

At its regular meeting on October 12, the Warren County Planning Commission faced a mixed agenda of Conditional Use Permit (CUP) requests and a rezoning request. ...

Council schedules joint meeting with its EDA as it ponders the costs of FREDA’s continued existence

“To be or not to be” – that seems to be a Shakespearean question looming regarding the continued existence of the unilateral Front Royal Economic Development...

FRPD sting operation nets charges of solicitation of minors for sexual purposes against 22-year-old Bowling Green man

On Thursday, September 22, 2022, Front Royal Police detectives initiated an investigation regarding the solicitation of minors in the Warren County/Front Royal area. Detectives started a...

Local military veterans advocate Skip Rogers edges out vet Joe McFadden for next year of McFadden’s vacated(?) council seat – But is that the story’s end?

After over an hour-and-40-minutes in Executive/Closed session Tuesday evening, October 11, including interviews of the final two of three applicants granted interviews, to fill the vacant(?)...

Winchester Civil War reenactor pleads not guilty to planting a pipe bomb at Cedar Creek Battlefield

Winchester resident Gerald Leonard Drake pleaded not guilty on Friday to 15 charges alleging that he planted a pipe bomb at Cedar Creek Battlefield in 2017...

E. Wilson Morrison students rally for ‘Heavenly Hats’ for young cancer victims nationwide

At 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, October 7, E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School students staged a “Heavenly Hats Parade” as part of a nationwide fundraising initiative to...

Town Planning Commission Work Session reviews Special Use Permits for public hearings

The Front Royal Planning Commission met on Wednesday, October 5, to discuss upcoming Special Use Permits (SUPs) that will face public hearings at the Commission’s regular...

Civil War Re-enactor indicted for planting pipe bomb at Cedar Creek Battlefield – Gerald Drake also charged with stalking and mailing threatening letters

HARRISONBURG, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville has indicted Gerald Leonard Drake, 63, from Winchester, Va., for mailing threatening letters, stalking, and planting a...

Update: School Board stays with VSBA; approves renovation contract; faces chronic absenteeism

This story has been updated to correct the board vote, which was 5-0 to approve all VSBA-related action items. The Warren County School Board will remain...

Supervisors appear reluctant to forward Data Centers as a by-right use regardless of zoning amendment creating new Light Industrial District

Following a detailed presentation by County Planning Director Matt Wendling on the procedural requirements for authorizing the development of Data Centers in Industrial or Light Industrially...

Town officials praise Energy Services staff for restoring power during Saturday’s storm

The aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which brought strong winds and heavy rain to the commonwealth, wreaked havoc on some Front Royal residents over the weekend. Mary...

‘Bikers Against Child Abuse’ support victims and families as Garrett Dean sentenced to 7 years on sexual abuse of minors plea agreement convictions

A 26-year-old man who plead guilty to several charges related to the sexual abuse of two minor girls as part of a plea agreement with the...

As County-directed EDA develops detailed Strategic Plan for the future, it moves toward joint meeting with Town counterpart

The still legally named Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (FR-WC EDA, more commonly now referenced as the WC EDA in the wake of the Front...

Ennis Family files $6 million wrongful death lawsuit, citing excessive force by Warren County deputies

The Family of Ralph C. Ennis has filed a $6 million federal lawsuit claiming that excessive force by two Warren County Sheriff’s deputies during a traffic...

Attorney General Jason Miyares renews partnership agreement with Front Royal TRIAD

On September 29, 2022, Attorney General Jason Miyares renewed the agreement with the local TRIAD organization. The Attorney General was the guest speaker and answered questions...

Council approves short-term rentals, one contingent on special exemption from parking

The Front Royal Town Council at its regular meeting Monday evening approved three short-term rentals, though one applicant must obtain a special exemption from the parking...